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Nursing

News, opinions and meeting coverage in nursing.

Use of Psych Drugs Up, Women Biggest Users

One American in five takes psychiatric medication for conditions such as depression and anxiety, and use of the drugs is more common among women, researchers found.

ACR: Enbrel May Be Enough for Some RA Patients

CHICAGO -- Monotherapy with etanercept (Enbrel) can keep some rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in long-term remission, researchers said here.

ACR: Savella Brings Relief Long-Term in Fibromyalgia

CHICAGO -- Milnacipran (Savella), a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, brought long-term relief to fibromyalgia patients who remained on therapy, researchers said here.

Systolic BP That's Too Low After Stroke Not Good Either

Systolic blood pressure that is too low -- as well as too high -- may put patients who have had a noncardioembolic ischemic stroke at risk for another one, researchers found.

Life Expectancy Shorter After TIA

Nine years after discharge, the survival of patients hospitalized with a transient ischemic attack was 20% lower than expected, with older patients more likely to be affected, according to an Australian study.

Jumpy Legs in Parkinson's Likely Not RLS

Patients with early Parkinson's disease were more likely to have a movement disorder called leg motor restlessness than true restless legs syndrome, a study found.

ACAAI: Intradermal Testing No Help for Cat Allergies

BOSTON -- Intradermal allergen testing adds no useful information when evaluating patients for cat allergies, since the results are usually false when they contradict those of skin-prick testing, a researcher said here.

Vodka, Malt Liquor Most Likely to Buy Trip to Emergency Room

WASHINGTON -- Vodka and malt beverages were the forms of alcohol most likely to have been consumed by patients who wound up at the emergency department, seeking treatment for an injury, according to a small study.

Go With the Flow When Treating LAD Stenosis

Medical treatment was as effective as surgery for patients with moderate to severe isolated stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery who had fractional flow reserve of 0.80 or greater, according to results from a single-center study.

Septra, Bactrim Linked to 'Serious' Side Effects

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole -- a widely used antibiotic sold as Septra, Bactrim, and others -- has a set of adverse reactions that range from minor to potentially fatal, according to a literature review.

Readers Say Vitamin Levels Should Be Checked Yearly

Processed foods, mineral-depleted soil, overcooked vegetables, increased stress levels -- all of these increase the chances of having a vitamin deficiency, according to a vocal majority of 番茄社区 readers who commented on last week's poll.

Anemia Worsens Surgical Outcomes

Patients who are anemic before going into surgery are at greater risk of death and other complications, researchers found.

Brain Takes Multiple Hits from Low B12 Levels

Low levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to cognitive problems for older adults in more than one way, according to a cross-sectional study.

Medtronic Infusion Pump Recalled

Battery problems with two of Medtronic's SynchroMed II implantable infusion pumps have forced the company to recall them, according to the FDA, although the recall only affects products not yet implanted.

Level of Diastolic Function Predicts Death

The presence of moderate or severe diastolic dysfunction in patients with preserved systolic function independently predicted mortality, a retrospective study determined.

Cancer Risk Forces Actos Off French, German Markets

Drug regulators in Germany and France have ordered doctors to stop prescribing the type 2 diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos), following a French study suggesting a heightened risk of bladder cancer.

FDA Warns of High-Grade Prostate Ca Risk With BPH Drugs

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has issued a warning of an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer with the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), currently approved to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.

ASCO: Flaxseed No Help for Hot Flashes

CHICAGO -- Flaxseed will not ease hot flashes for women with menopausal symptoms or breast cancer survivors taking anti-estrogen drugs, according to clinical trial results.

Cephalexin Useful in Pediatric MRSA

Children with uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections can still be treated with cephalexin -- along with drainage and careful wound care -- even though community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, a randomized study suggested.

Use Dabigatran Within 30 Days of Opening

Unbeknownst to many physicians, bottles of the new oral anticoagulant dabigatran (Pradaxa) must be used within 30 days of opening, according to information from the manufacturer.

Complications Common After Endoscopy

Complications after endoscopy may be more common than previously thought, researchers say.

ACG: C. Diff No Match for Cheap Spice

SAN ANTONIO -- A component of the inexpensive curry spice turmeric may help ward off infection with Clostridium difficile in hospitals, researchers said here.

ASCO Breast: Gamma Imaging Tops Breast Ultrasound

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) outperformed breast ultrasound for evaluating patients with indeterminate mammograms in a retrospective comparison of the two imaging techniques, researchers reported here.

Folate-Fortified Birth Control Pill Approved

The FDA has approved an oral contraceptive containing folate to help prevent birth defects after women go off the pill.

Smokeless Tobacco Dangerous and No Help for Quitting

Although less harmful than cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco products are not safe as a smoking cessation tool and carry a number of potentially fatal health risks, an American Heart Association scientific statement said.

Cough, Wheezing Raise Risk in Kids' Anesthesia

Children with a dry cough at night or wheezing during exercise are at elevated risk of respiratory adverse events during and after general anesthesia, researchers reported.